Camera



Nov. 19, 1935.

N, P. BILLING CAMERA 3 Sheets-Sheel 3 Filed Oct. 23, 1934.-

fPatented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ica Application October 23, 1934, Serial No. 749,853

In Great Britain November 3, 1938 26 Claims.

This invention consists in improvements in or relating to cameras and is directed particularly to an improved shutter mechanism and camera front containing .that mechanism.

According to the present invention a shutter mechanism comprises two leaves relatively movable to one another, one of the leaves having in it an exposure aperture and the other serving as a closure member therefor in combination with shutter-release means for moving the two leaves through different distances.

Preferably the release means serves to produce a relatively small movement of the two leaves in company to be followed by a further movel ment of one leaf alone. Thus the movement of the two leaves in company may serve first to bring the apertured leaf into a position relatively to the lens to open the latter and the further movement of the companion leaf will subsequentleaves is obtained by a relative angular separal tion of the aperture in one leaf and the closure portion of the other.

The operating or releasing mechanism, in one form of the invention, comprises a mutilated gear element on one leaf, a complete gear element on the other over that portion of it corresponding to its full movement, and a gear member, which is preferably a driving gear member, engages both gear elements simultaneously. Thus, by turning the driving gear element in one direction (the shutter setting direction) the mutilated gear element on the first-named leaf will cause the latter to move only to a limited extent whereupon the gear element becomes disengaged and further movement of the driving gear member in the same direction continues to move the secondmentioned leaf. Consequently, while by this setting movement the apertured leaf may be turned about its axis to move its aperture from the open to the closed position in relation to the lens, the second or closure leaf may have its movement continued so as to carry its closure portion to any predetermined angular distance beyond the aperture in the companion leaf. On release of the driving gear member the two leaves will first be returned together, the mutilated gear 5" permitting the first-named leaf to return to the exposure position, and continued movement will cause the second or shutter leaf eventually to ybe returned to a position to close the aperture in the first-named leaf, the time intervalv between the opening and closing ofthe lens being determined by the angular separation of the two leaves.

Alternatively, in place of angular movement of the leaves linear movement may be employed, and the gear elements associated with the leaves 10 will then be in the form of racks.

For returning the leaves on release of the shutter mechanism a spring is preferably employed operating through the driving gear element, the setting movement of the latter serving to wind the spring. It is also preferred to provide a spring tending always to maintain the end of the mutilated gear in a position for immediate engagement with the driving'gear member at allvtimes. Any preferred stop or catch or like means may be employed to hold the driving gear member in its set position prior to release;

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood a preferred example will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is an elevation of the camera front looking at it from the front,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the camera front 30 looking from the right in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 1, I

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Figure 3, I 35 Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 showing the shutter leaves in their normally closed position,

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3 with one shutter leaf removed, l 40 Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 6 showingV both shutter leaves partially turned in a shutter setting movement,

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the parts in positions for making time exposures, 45

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modied construction,

Figure 10 is a section on the line i-iii of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a detail on an enlarged scale of the 50- shutter release mechanism shown in Figures 9 and 10, A

Figure 12 is a view looking from above of the parts shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 shows a form of brake for checking the return speed of a shutter leaf,

Figure 14 is a section on the line |4-I4 o! Figure 13, and

Figure 15 is a section on the line IS-II of Figure 13.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several iigures of the drawings.

I n the form illustrated in Figures lto 8 a camera front, for example a front section for the camerabody described in the British Specification No. 20322/33, is alone illustrated; and it is to be understood that the iront may be used not only with the camera body above referred to but with any body to which it may be desired to iit such a iront.

The front comprises four concentrlcally arranged sectionsv i, 2, 3 and 4 which are secured together in a manner to be described later, so that they are light-tight. The rear section I is in the form of a anged disc recessed to accommodate two shutter leaves 5 and 6 and a pinion i. Secured on a central aperture in the section I is a rear lens element 8 of a combination lens, the front' element 8 of which is carried in an aperture situated centrally in the front section 4.

Theadjacent section 2 u wn: a further pinion Iil and is itself formed as a ring having internal gear teeth I2 around the inner periphery. The ring is centered on cheek pieces I3 secured to or formed integrally with the rear section I and extending from the inner surface of the latter. The teeth I2 mesh with the teeth of pinion I0.

Sections 3 and 4 together afford for housing a ratchet wheel I4 and pawls I5 and I3. The latter are pivoted in the iront wall of section 4 at I1 and I8 respectively and are formed with operating knobs I! and 23 which pmjet through the cylindrical wall of section I through slots 2i and 22 (Figure 8) provided for that purpose. The sections 3 and 4 also together aiIord accommodation for two discs 23 and 24 oi which the disc 23 serves to carry'a plurality of light iilters 25 and the disc v24 is apertured at 26 to afford a plurality of stops. Thev disc 23 is mounted on a pivot pin 21 and the disc 24 on a pivot pin 23 held in either one or both of the sections 3 and 4.

The shutter leaves are mounted on a pivot II having a screw-threaded extremity taking into the circular face of section I as clearly shown in Figure 3. The outer end of the pivot I I is ilanged to retain the leaves 5 and i in position while allowing them suiiicient freedom for rotation on the pivot.

The leaf Q is shown most clearly in Figure 5 and comprises a ring gear having a large aperture 28 and a. relatively small solid sector 33 and the inner end of which embraces the pivot pin I I. The leaf 5 has in it a sector-shaped aperture 3l which, when the two leaves are in the closed position of Figure 5, is covered by the sector 3l to prevent passage of light through the lens system into the camera. On the periphery ot the leaf 5 are gear teeth 32 extending over.l only a small arc of the periphery and comprising the mutilated gear already mentioned. The teeth 32 and the teeth 33 of the ring gear on the leaf 6 both mesh with the teeth of pinion 1. Extending to the rear from the leaf l is a pin 34 which is located between the arms oi! a hairpin spring 35 as shown most clearly in Figure 6. The loop of the spring is supported on a reduced neck of the pivot sin II and is received in a sector-like spring 3l is anchored to the spindle 31 and the other end is anchored at 39 (Figure 6) to the section I.

A pin 4l projecting rearwardly from the sur- 10 face oi the ratchet wheel I4 near its periphery can be engaged by a tooth 4I at the end of the pawl I6. A second tooth 42 on that pawl engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel I4. A pin 43 extending rearwardly from the pawl I6 is engaged 15 by the extremity 44 of the pawl I5.

The filter and stop discs 23 and 24 have small portions o! their peripheries projecting through slots formed for that purpose in the cylindrical walls o! sections 3 and 4. The arrangement and 2U operation oi these slots is similar to that described in British Specification No. 20966/34.

The operation oi the mechanism so far described is as iollows1 In order to set the shutter the ring 2 is ro- 25 tated clockwise as viewed in Figures l, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the edge ot the ring 2 being knurlcd to facilitate its manipulation. Rotation of ring 2 rotates pinion Il in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 5 and also rotates pinion I and 30 ratchet wheel I4 in asimilar direction. Pinion 1 rotates both shutter leaves but owing to the mutilated gear 32 the leaf 5 will only receive a partial rotation from the position shown in Figure 6 to that in Figure 7. The leaf 6 can be 35 rotated to any desired extent thus imparting an adiustahle angular separation between the two leaves to carry the segment 30 any desired anguiar distance past the aperture 3i. A pin 4i on the ring 2 and a co-operating stop pin 46 on 40 section 3 serves to limit the angular movement o! ring 2 substantially one complete revolution as a maximum. As the ring 2 is turned spring 33 is wound and tends to return the parts to their initial positions but this is prevented by engage- 45 ment of the ratchet teeth of the wheel I4 with the pawl tooth 42.

For instantaneous exposure the knob 2t is fully depressed so as torelease the ratchet I4 and to remove pawl tooth 4I from the path ot pin 40. 50 The length of exposure will depend upon the angular separation given to the leaves of the shutter. On release the leaf 5 will return to the position of Figure 6 to bring the aperture 3i in register with the lens aperture and the exposure 55 will be complete when the leaf i has 'turned to the position of Figure 5 so that the sector 3l covers the aperture 3I.

The ratio of the gearing is such that one complete revolution of the'ring 2 rotates pinions l 60 and Il and the ratchet wheel I4 substantially four times thereby rotating the leaf t twice. The maximum instantaneous exposure will be obtained when ,the ring 2 has been fully wound. The sector 3l will pass across the aperture 3| 65 during its rst revolution but the length oi time occupied in this momentary closure is so small as to be negligible.

For time exposure the ring 2 is given a semirotation and this will be adjusted by setting the 70 pin 45 against an index mark on the edge oi' section 3. The eiect of this movement is to carry the pin 4l from its position oi rest (Figure 4) twice beneath the pawl tooth 4I back again to the position of Figure 4. Release is now effected Cfu by depressing knob I! which rocks pawl I5 about its axis I1 and raises its end 44 to lift pin 43 and rock pawl I6 about its axis I8. The position of the pivot I1 is such that this movement will only serve to release the tooth 42 from the rested in a position substantially half way round so that the sector 30 is almost diametrically opposite the aperture 3| and closure of the shutter will not be effected until knob 20 is depressed to release the ratchet I4. Upon release of the ratchet, leaf 6 will then return to the position of Figure 5 and exposure will be completed.

It will be observed that the action of the spring is always kto hold the end tooth of the mutilated gear 32 resiliently in engagement with the teeth of pinion 1 ready for immediate movement by that pinion.

A sleeve |46 screwthreaded into the front of section 4 may be withdrawn by unscrewing it to serve as a hood for the lens.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 10 to l2 the general co-operation of the parts is similar to that already described except that the anangement of some of those parts is different and the shutter release mechanism is modified. It will be seen that ring 2 only partially overhangs pinion I0 and receives a bigger bearing on bearing surfaces afforded by another disc 41 introduced between sections I and 2. The disc or section 41 serves also partially to house pinion I0 and entirely to house pinion 1. The shutter leave; 5 and 6 are now arranged in rear of the rear lens element 8 and the discs 23 and 24 only are interposed between front and rear lens elements. t

Instead of the ratchet wheel I4 a crown wheel 4l is now employed with its teeth facing to the front. Pawls I5 and I6 are now mounted on pivotsv49 and 50 the axes of which are in planes at right angles to those of the pawls I5 and I6 of the previous construction. Consequently the pawls are actuated by means of press knobs I9 and 20 exposed in the front face of section 4.

- One of the teeth of the crown wheel as shown at 5I is longer than the others and plays the part of pin of the previous construction. Otherwise the action of the release mechanism is similar to that already described and, as will be seen from Figure l2, the pawl tooth 4I now projects inwardly towards the teeth of the crown wheel 48.

In both constructions pawls I 5 and I6 are urged outwardly by springs 52 causing the pawl tooth 4I to be resiliently urged towards the co-operating ratchet teeth. In the second construction the pin 43 will not be required as the nose 44 presses directly against the end of pawl I 6.

If it is found desirable to check the return speed of the shutter after release the modification illustrated in Figures 13 to 15 may be employed. In these figures only the ring section 41 and the section 2 are illustrated. They are now so shaped as to afford a recess 53 in which the outer wall 54 of the recess, i. e., that wall of it afforded by the section 2, is eccentric with respect to the'inner wall. A brake cam |54 pivoted at 55 has a resilient tail 56 in the form of a short length of spring, the tension of which is adjustable by means of the grub screw 51. The brake cam I54 lies inclined across the recess 53 in such a position that at the beginning of the release movement of the shutter little or no braking occurs until the leaves have moved to the position of Figure 6. After this angular distance of travel has taken place the eccentricity of the 5 wall 54 causes the latter to engage the brake cam thus checking. the return movement of leaf 6 to the required degree.

The invention is not limited to the precise details of construction, for instance, instead of 10 providing a mutilated gear on one of the leaves a check mechanism may be employed to limit its movement in any preferred manner and to drive it on release by means other than the driving gear member described hereinbefore. 15

Moreover, the means for retarding the return of the closure leaf may be modified from that described with reference to Figure 13.

Also the invention is not limited to a construction in which the lens-controlling portions of the 20 leaves are in planes transverse to` the axis of the lens. The term leaf is to be understood, therefore, to include any shutter member which will fulfill a function corresponding to that of the shutter leaf 5 or 6 described herein. 25

I claim:-

l. Camera shutter mechanism comprising in combination a pair of movably mounted shutter components, the rst of which has in it an exposure aperture and the second of which nor- 30 mally serves as a closure member for said aperture, a shutter setting element operatively connected in common to both shutter components, said operative connection providing lost motion between said setting element and the first-named 35 shutter component only after a limited initial setting movement. of the latter has occurred, whereby the two shutter components are movable through different distances, and releasable means to retain said components in the positions 'to 40 which they are thus set.

2. Camera shutter mechanism comprising in combination a. pair of'movably mounted shutter components, the first of which has in it an exposure aperture and the second of which normally serves as a closure member for said aperture, a shutter setting element operatively connected in common to both shutter components, said operative connection providing lost motion between said setting element and the first-named shutter component only after a limited initial setting movement of the latter has occurred, whereby the two shutter components are mov- -able through different distances, means to retain said components in the position to which they are thus set, and a shutter release device operable after actuation of the setting element to permit,y in a direction opposite to that of the setting movement, of a relatively small movement of the two shutter components in company followed by a further movement vof the second component alone.

3. Camera shutter mechanism according to claim 1 in which the shutter setting element is operable to variable extents for the purpose of separating the shutter components to distances which are also variable and are dependent upon the exposure period desired.

4. Camera shutter mechanism comprising in combination a pair of shutter components rotatable about fixed axes, the first component having an exposure aperture and the second normally serving as a closure memberl of said aperture, a shutter setting element operatively connected in common to both shutter components, "5

said operative connection providing lost motion between said setting element and the lint-named shutter component only after a limited initial setting movement of the latter, whereby the two shutter components are movable through diil'erent angular distances, and releasable means to retain said components in the positions to which they are thus set.

5. Camera shutter mechanism comprising in combination a pair of shutter components rotatable about an axis common to them both, the first component having an exposure aperture and the second normally serving as a closure member for said aperture, a shutter setting element operatively conne.|ted infcommon to both shutter components, said operative connection providing lost motion between said setting element and the iirst-named shutter component only after a limited initial setting movement oi' the latter, whereby the two shutter components are movable through different angular distances, and releasable means to retain said components in the positions to which they are thus set.

5. Camera shutter mechanism comprising in combination a pair of movably mounted shutter components the first of which has in it an exposure aperture and the second of which normally serves as a closure member for said aperture, a mutilated gear element movable with said ilrst shutter component, a gear element movable with said second shutter component and capable by operation of a setting element of imparting greater movement to the latter than the movement which can be transmitted to the nrst component through the mutilated gear element, and a setting element comprising a gear member to engage both gear elements simultaneously.

7. Camera shutter mechanism comprising in combination a pair of shutter components rotatable about iixed axes, the iirst component having an exposure aperture and the second normally serving as a closure member for saidV aperture, a mutilated gear element rotatable with the tlrst shutter component, a gear element rotatable with the second shutter component and capable of transmitting by operation ci a setting element a greater movement to the second shutter component through the mutilated gear element, and a setting element comprising a gear member to engage both gear elements simultaneously.

8. Camera shutter mechanism according to claim 6 and combinedl with driving means for the gear member, means operatively connecting the driving means with the gear member such that movement of the latter during setting will energize the driving member, and a shutter release device operatively coupled to the gear member.

9. Camera shutter mechanism comprising in combination a pair of shutter components rotatable about iixed axes, the nrst component having an exposure aperture and the second normally serving as a closure member for said aperture, a mutilated gear element rotatable with the first shutter component, a gear element rotatable with the second shutter component and capable oi transmitting by operation of a setting element a greater movement to the second shutter component than that which can be trammitted to the ilrst shutter component through' the mutilated gear element, a setting element comprising a gear member to engage both gear elements simultaneously, and means operatively connecting the driving means with the gear member such that movement o! the latter dining setaperture and the second normally serving as a w closure member for said aperture, a shutter setting element operatively connected in common to both shutter components, said operative connection providing lost motion between said setting element and the first-named shutter component 15V only .after a limited initial setting movement of the latter, whereby the two shutter components are movable through different angular distances. and releasable means to retain said components in the positions to which they are thus set.

11. Camera shutter mechanism comprising in combination a pair of shutter components of disc iorm that are disposed to lie and move in planes transverse to the axis of the camera lens about an axis common tothem both and parallel to that of the camera lens, the tlrst component having an exposure aperture and the second normally serving as a closure member ior said aperture. a shutter setting element operatively connected in common to both shutter components, said operative connection providing lost motion between said setting element and the mst-named shutter component only after a limited initial setting movement of the latter, whereby the two shutter components are movable through diierent angular distances, and means to retain said components in the positions to which they are thus set.

12. Camera shutter mechanism comprising in combination a pair of shutter components rotato able about a iixed axis, the iirst component having an exposure aperture and the second normally serving as a clomre member for said aperture, a mutilated gear element movable with said rst shutter components, a gear element movable with said second shutter component capable o! by operation of a setting element,

a greater movement to the said second component thanthatwhichcanbetransmittedtotheilrst component through the mutilated gear element, a setting member comprising a gear member to engage both gear elements simultaneously, and a spring tending always to maintain the mutilated gear element in engagement at one or the other oi its ends with the driving gear member.

13. Camera shutter mechanism comprising in combination a pair oi' shutter components rotatableaboutanaxiscommontothembotnthenrst componenthavinganexposureapcrtureandthe secondnormallyservingasaclurememberiorw said aperture, a mutilated gear element movable with said nrst shutter component, s gear element movable with said second shutter component and capable, by operation o! a setting element, of transmitting a greater movement to said second g5 component than that which can be transmitted to said nrst component through the mutilated gear ciment, a setting element comprising a gear member to engage both gear elemmts simultaneously,anddrivingmeansforthegearmelnber7q a shutter driving spring to actuate the shutter components when they are released at setting.

14. Camera shutter according to clahnlBcomhinedwithasmxmoperativelycon-u.

nected with the mutilated gear element and tending always to maintain the latter in engagement ratchet wheel, a stop on the latter, and a coopf erating releasable stop to arrest the ratchet wheel and gear member after a partial return movement has occurred. I

16. Camera shutter mechanism according to claim in which the shutter setting element is constituted by a hand-rotatable ring gear and is combined with a shutter driving gear member meshing with the ring gear, a ratchet wheel rotatable with the gear member, a pawl for the ratchet wheel, a stop on the latter, and a co-operating releasable stop to arrest the ratchet wheel and gear member after a partial return movement has occurred.

17. Camera shutter mechanism according to claim 6 in which the shutter setting element is constituted by a hand-rotatable ring gear which meshes with the gear member that is movable with the second shutter component, in combination with a ratchet wheel rotatable with the gear member, a pawl for the ratchet wheel, a stop on the latter, and a cooperating releasable stop to arrest the ratchet wheel and gear member after a partial return movement has occurred.

18. Camera shutter mechanism according to claim l in which the shutter setting element is constituted by a hand-rotatable ring gear and is combined with a shutter driving gear member meshing with the ring gear, a ratchet wheel rctatable with the gear member, a pawl for the ratchet wheel, a stop on the latter, and a cooperating releasable stop to arrest the ratchet wheel and gear member after a partial return movement has occurred, the said releasable stop and pawl being constituted by a single entity which is pivotally mounted, and a release device operative` to move the pawl only out of engagement with the ratchet teeth and to leave the releasable -stop in operation subiect to a second and subsequent manipulation to release it.

19. Camera shutter mechanism according to claim 5, in which the shutter setting element is constituted by a hand-rotatable ring gear and is combined with a shutter driving gear member meshing with the ring gear, a ratchet wheel rotatable with the gear member, a pawl for the ratchetwheel, a stop on the latter, a cooperating releasable stop to arrest the ratchet wheel and gear member after a partial return movementhas occurred, the said releasable stop and pawl b'eing constituted by a single entity which is pivotally mounted, and a release device operative to move the pawl only out ot engagement with the ratchet teeth and to leave the releasabie stop in operation subject to a second and subsequent manipulation to release it. 5

20. Camera shutter mechanism according to claim 6 in which the shutter setting element is constituted by'a hand-rotatable ring gear which meshes with the gear member that is movable with the second shutter component, in combina- 10 tion with a ratchet wheel 'rotatable with the gear member, a. pawl `for the ratchet wheel, a stop on the latter; a cooperating releasable stop to arrest the ratchet wheel and gear member after a partial return movement has occurred, the said releasable stop and pawl being constituted by a single entity which is pivotally mounted, and a release device operative to move the pawl only out ot engagement with the ratchet teeth' and to leave the releasable stop in opera- 20 tion subject to a second and subsequent manipulation to release it.

21. Camera, shutter mechanism accordingto claim 1 in combination with a retarding device operable on a moving part of lthe shutter mechanism to delay closure thereof.

22. Camera shutter mechanism according to claim 5' in combination with a retarding device operable on a moving part of the shutter mecha- -nism to delay closure thereof.

23. Camera shutter `mechanism according to claim 6 in combination with a retarding device operable on a moving part oi the shutter mechanism to delay closure thereof.

24. Camera shutter mechanism according to claim `1 combined with a retarding device operable on a moving part of the shutted mechanism to delay closure thereof, said retarding device comprising a resiliently controlled cam-like surtace inclined with respect to an eccentrically dis- 40 posed cooperating brake surface on a rotating part of the shutter mechanism, and the said cooperating brake surface therefor.

25. Camera shutter mechanism according to claim 1 in which the shutter components are of l5 disc form and are formed with gear elements at their periphery, the first-named component having a mutilated gear element and the second component having a. complete gear element whereby it may perform one or more complete revolutions if necessary in effecting a single exposure.

26. Camera shutter mechanism according to claim l in which the operative connection between the setting element and the shutter components is such as to provide lost motion between the setting element and the Erst-named shutter component after a. limited movement of the latter in either direction.

NOEL PEMBERTON BILLING. 

